Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 18:33:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Ron Buckmire
FEEDBACK
The (candidate for Governor of Georgia) Steve Langford Web page is at:
http://www.steve-langford.org/
He, unlike Republican candidate Michael Bowers, supports repeal of the GA
Sodomy Law. Here is the press release from his web site on sodomy law repeal:
Press Contact(s):
Susan Lagana, 770/984-1998
FORNICATION...ADULTERY...CONSENSUAL SEX
Senator Langford Proposes to Repeal Georgia's Intrusive Laws concerning
Consensual Sex
(June 12, 1997, ATLANTA)
"As many of you who cover the state capitol know, I am a strong advocate of
limited government and believe that government has become too big and too
intrusive. I have often attacked government at all levels for imposing too
many rules and regulations on citizens and businesses - from motorcycle helmet
laws to allowing local governments to expand unchecked while state and federal
governments are cutting back.
"Because I believe passionately in the rights of private property, I cannot
stand by any longer and watch our state government attack one of the most
sacred property rights any adult citizen possesses - the right to one's own
private sexual conduct.
"In Georgia today, we are making criminals of the vast majority of adult
citizens.
"At this time in this state, it is illegal for a middle-aged single man and
a middle-aged single woman to have a consensual sexual relationship. It is
also illegal in our state for a legally married adult couple to have sexual
relations in ways other than those the state deems acceptable. Do citizens
really believe that the state should make decisions for how a man and wife
conduct themselves in their own bedroom? Likewise, it is illegal for a man or
woman who are separated, but not legally divorced, to have sexual relations
with anyone else.
"Is this really the state's concern?
"It isn?t that these laws are out of date. The fact is, they have never
been consistent with the most basic rights of American citizens. They are
examples of laws that have more in common with Communist China or the
theocracy of Iran than with the United States of America. These laws violate
the most basic tenets of a free society.
"These laws make hypocrites out of those who govern and criminals out of
the governed. They are unenforceable and undermine respect for the law. We
have far greater problems of crime, drugs and violence for our courts and
police to focus on.
"For these reasons and others, I am today announcing that I will introduce
in the next legislative session, legislation to repeal Georgia statutes
16-6-18 (fornication) and 16-6-19 (adultery), and that section of 16-6-2 that
relates to consensual relations between adults.
"The repeal of these statutes would leave it to the moral judgment of
adults to determine what type of sexual relationships they wish to have with
other consenting adults."
AFFECTED PORTIONS OF GEORGIA'S CODE
16-6-2
(a) A person commits the offense of sodomy when he or she performs or
submits to any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth
or anus of another.
(b) A person convicted of the offense of sodomy shall be punished by
imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years.
16-6-18
An unmarried person commits the offense of fornication when he voluntarily
has sexual intercourse with another person and, upon conviction thereof, shall
be punished as for a misdemeanor.
16-6-19
A married person commits the offense of adultery when he voluntarily has
sexual intercourse with a person other than his spouse and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.
###
Senator Steve Langford ... PO Box 3044, 1000 Longley Place Ste. B,
LaGrange, GA 30240 USA